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 Replies: 11 / Views: 369 |
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
Ever since I started posting in this forum, I have been exceedingly interested in the Roman Empire and the Greeks. I bought a handbook regarding the aforementioned and I found it totally interesting.
Which brings me to this forum. The knowledge you all have about the emperors and Greeks is amazing and it's gotten me interested in reading about them.
Does anyone have a recommendation on the rise and fall of the Roman empire?
There are so many books out there that I don't know which one to buy, besides I'm slim on do-re-mi.
My usual book purveyors, Abebooks and Thriftbooks, are my go to source for books.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
900 Posts |
"The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome 31 B.C. - A.D. 476" by Michael Grant
"Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome" by Chris Scarre
Edited by Victor
05/02/2026 7:41 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2113 Posts |
A Book !  How about getting some popcorn and relaxing? Honestly, the best experience that truly captures Roman history is actually a TV series: . . "Rome"- Covers the fall of the Republic and rise of the Empire - Features figures like Julius Caesar and Augustus - Shows everyday Roman life, politics, and military structure Oh, almost forgot, it's on HBO |
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Valued Member
 United States
117 Posts |
Thank you Victor
I checked out Thriftbooks.com and the price was right up my alley.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
@coinforme
Sounds like a good plan. I'm going to have to do a little searching on that one.
BTW popcorn is at the ready!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3433 Posts |
One of the greatest works of the English language .
Published in 1776 !
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
Don't be intimidated by it
In fact buy an abridged paperback copy
(sections on religious controversy and barbarian 'antics' edited)
They sell quite 'cheap'
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Moderator
Australia
16805 Posts |
A book I can recommend that is both a good overview on the life of each emperor and also outlines basic info about the coins they issued is one of the older editions (third or fourth) of the "Roman coins and their values" catalogue by David R. Sear. There is a fifth edition of the catalogue but it comes in five volumes; I wouldn't recommend it unless you're already heavily into Roman coins.
Wayne G. Sayles also writes a good series of introductory books on each of the ancient coinage series, mixing a historic overview of the era with a summary of coinage types. Volume 1 is introductory "how to collect ancient coins", Volume 2 is Greek, Vol 3 is Roman, Vol 4 is Roman Provincial, Vol 5 is Byzantine, and Vol 6 is "everybody else". He has also written "Classical deception" on counterfeits.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1563 Posts |
A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome is a good book as already posted. I also like the Roman coins and their values by David Sear, volumes I through to 5. The Sear ones are good as they not only give you some detail of the Roman Emperor but also shows a good range of the coinage, though the prices are a little out of date.
Another good read is Chronicle of the Roman Republic, The rulers of ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus, Philip Matyszak.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
I bought the following books from Thriftbooks. The cost was right up my alley, $5 and $9. "The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome 31 B.C. - A.D. 476" by Michael Grant
"Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome" by Chris ScarreI'm also watching the series Lost Treasures of Rome on TV. That Nero was one bad dude. While I don't have the knowledge most of you have, I am sure enjoying myself in learning about the Romans. Can't wait for my books to get here. I also bought 3 Roman coins on ebay and should have them in 5 days or so.I only paid $16 for them, free shipping. I still have 10 coins to identify from a generous gift of a forum member. Guess I should work on them soon. |
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
I read Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome" by Chris Scarre over a period of 4 days. A very easy read. I couldn't put the book down. The book covers all the emperors along with how they came into reign and their death or demise. Some of them were asassinated while other were overthrown. The book read like a tragic soap opera.  There were plenty of pictures, maps, statues, art work and choice vignettes about their rule of the country. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn more. As for the other book The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome 31 B.C. - A.D. 476" by Michael Grant
I started reading it too but find it not as entertaining. Lots of biographical data, but I plan on pushing through. |
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Moderator
Australia
16805 Posts |
Quote:
The book covers all the emperors along with how they came into reign and their death or demise. Some of them were asassinated while other were overthrown. The book read like a tragic soap opera. Indeed; given the brief and turbulent reigns of the vast majority of emperors, especially in the third century (AD 200s) and at the end of the Western Empire (AD 400s), one does wonder why anybody would have actually wanted the job. And yet not only did generals fight each other for the privilege, but we have men like Didius Julianus, who wanted the job so badly that when the Praetorian Guard assassinated Pertinax and then held an auction for the imperatorship, he was prepared to not only risk assassination himself but pay the modern-day equivalent of billions of dollars. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Quote:
I started reading it too but find it not as entertaining. Lots of biographical data, but I plan on pushing through. Michael Grant is one of my favorite historians, but he was not very user friendly and was known for refusing to simplify complex topics; so he can be a bit of a chore to read. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 369 |
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Posted 05/02/2026 8:08 pm
